Higher Education Act (HEA)

In a competitive global economy, obtaining some kind of postsecondary education—whether through an apprenticeship program, technical degree, or four-year college has become increasingly important to enabling individuals to attain economic self-sufficiency and support a family. High-quality early childhood programs support future educational attainment, and children who attend quality early childhood programs are more likely to go on to graduate from high school and obtain further education. In turn, higher education programs and policies can also help support state and local efforts to improve access to quality early care and education.

One vital component to a high-quality early childhood education are quality early childhood educators. By strengthening educator preparation, we can ensure that the early childhood workforce is equipped with the knowledge, skills and abilities required to deliver high-quality instruction to our youngest learners.

The Higher Education Act, first passed in 1965, is sweeping federal higher education legislation that helps students pay for college and encourages innovation, access, quality, and affordability in higher education. Over the past half-century, HEA has been reauthorized eight times, most recently in 2008. As state and local policymakers work to strengthen and professionalize the early childhood workforce, the federal policies and programs established in HEA—including teacher quality programs in HEA Title II and federal student aid programs authorized in Title IV—can play an important role in supporting these efforts. Learn more.